Leaked: Jeep Gladiator pickup, totally in the metal
Just two days after the Jeep Scrambler Forum leaked possible evidence that the upcoming Jeep Wrangler pickup would be dubbed the Gladiator, the newly named Jeep Gladiator Forum is back with fresh details. Not only does the forum have extremely legit-looking press photos of the fully revealed Jeep Wrangler Gladiator pickup, there are also some interesting technical details for us to sink our teeth into.
The forum user claims that the leak came from an accidental post on FCA’s media site that was quickly removed. Whether that’s true or somebody with embargoed access simply broke the embargo is unclear, but the forum user “gladjt,” who provided the leak to the Gladiator Forum, just created an account today and made this single post.
As for the looks, it’s hard to deny that the Gladiator looks great. Whether it has a hard or soft top, or in Rubicon or Sahara trim, the JT pickup is a looker that is going to probably set the Jeep world alight. All indications are that the Gladiator will exclusively be built with four doors.
On to nuts and bolts: the purported technical breakdown indicates that the 3.6-liter V-6 from the new JL Wrangler will be available on the pickup, paired to either an eight-speed automatic transmission or a six-speed manual. For 2020, Jeep will add a 3.0-liter EcoDiesel V-6 exclusively mated to an eight-speed auto—no word on if the 2.0-liter turbo-four will be available on the Gladiator.
Unsurprisingly, the Gladiator will come with the same cadre of off-road goodies as the JL Wrangler, including big off-road tires, an electronic sway-bar disconnect, a limited-slip differential, and front and rear electronic lockers. The 2020 Jeep Gladiator will claim best-in-class towing and payload capacity, with 7650 pounds and 1600 pounds, respectively.
The document posted on the forum is dated two weeks into the future—November 28, 2018—so we expect the Jeep pickup to be revealed during the upcoming Los Angeles Auto Show.
